Madison — Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp on Tuesday defended Gov. Scott Walker's plan to turn the Natural Resources Board into an advisory panel, instead of one that makes policy, even as she acknowledged she had not been consulted on the proposal in advance.

"I feel that it's extra layers," Stepp said of the board in a briefing to the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee. "I think it's duplicative."

The idea has sparked opposition from Democrats as well as some of Walker's fellow Republicans. Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon) said he had "some concerns" about the plan.(47)

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp., then so is chief executive Michael Koss, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

In a suit filed last week, the bank argues that if a jury finds Park Bank liable for the loss, then Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, the firm's former auditor, should have to pay some of the award.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," Park Bank wrote in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss in this case those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(1)

Alderman circles globe on $4,500 trip

Not only did Davis have to explain his absence from the Common Council's Finance & Personnel Committee so he could head off on the weeklong international excursion, but the north side alderman now is reporting that his all-expenses-paid trip was worth $4,500, according to newly filed ethics reports. That's the same figure that Davis put on his trip to Venezuela in 2006.

Who knew that public service paid so well?

By far the best-traveled alderman, Davis is the only member of the Common Council to report that someone else underwrote his foreign travel in the past two years. He received the freebie so he could give a speech at the South African International Trade & Investment Conference and Exhibition in October.

More important, Davis lost his seat on the finance committee. Council President Willie Hines Jr. says he was not punishing his colleague for going MIA during the committee's most important meetings last fall. Recall that Hines was forced to fill in for the absent alderman on the panel while it voted on some 70 budget amendments.